The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-05-12
CORRUPTION At ELECTIONS.


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CORRUPTION AT ELECTIONS
rhe way the Enslish lssprsss it--rickst.
Peddlins Done Away with.
The passage Of the reform bill Of 1882 in
England paved the way for many and Inn
portant reforms since. That bill prevented
large landowners from returning members
Of Parliament who did not truly represent
the people. The next great step in election
reform was made in 1854 by what is called
the first corrupt practices act, which provided
that all election expenditure should be made
either by the candidate or his agent and the
accounts should be published. By an act Of
1858 bribery was defined and judges (not as
In the United States Congress or the Le0isla-
tures) were allowed to pronounce on the fact
Of bribery. Subsequently an act was passed
regulating the ballot, and this act is substan-
tally in force in most Of Great Britain's
colonies.
The state prints and issues the ballot. II
contains the names, addresses and occupa-
tions of all the candidates for particular
office. To the right of the name Is blank
space wherein the voter checks off his choice.
manner of q coupon and both ballots and
stubs are numbered consecutively. The
voter as soon as his registration is found cor
rect is given "ballot-sheet," " and conducted
to q private room, where all alone does his
checking, folds the ballot after the fashion
indicated by the rules and after showing 1t
to the presiding Judge, drops II In the box.
Thus there is no chance for jugglery of tick
cts on the part of election judges. Penalties
are provided for forging, fraudulently defac-
ing or destroying, walking of with, sup
plying another with ballot and for put
ting anything other than ballot in the box.
In Australia the voter must Immediately af-
ter depositing his vote leave the polls. There
is very little chance under this law of bribing
voters, for the briber cannot as in America
put ticket in the voters hand and walk
him up to the polls, but the voter
must do his checking unaccompanied In
the private room. Honesty in the count il
insured by numbering the tickets, and by
can place q challenger at the polls, who has
also the right to watch the count. All those
employed around the polls must take the
oath Of secrecy. To have ones name in
serted in the printed ballot, all that is
required is written nomination by fifteen
this is very easy means Of obtaining q nom
ination and insures candidates an independ-
ence from the machine greater than else
where, the voter is not embarrassed by the
number of candidates.
The corrupt practices act Of 1888, called
the attorney general, limits the election ex-
penditures of candidates. For instance in q
constituency of 1900 voters (m!nimum)
81, $50 is allowed each candidate; in one of
10000 (maximum) $15, 900 is the most he may
spend. Bribery, undue influence, &C., are
defined and prohibited. Legal election ex-
penditure is defined. All money must pass
through the hands of but one person the
accounts must be made public. Both candi-
date and his agent must swear that the &C
counts are. correct to the best Of their know
ledge; each must make sworn statement
setting forth the fact of the nomination
and declaring that he has not prom
ward, office or employment, or any valua-
BILE consideration, nor incurred any liza
bilities, and that no other person or
club to his knowledge has. other than
those Get forth in the. ACCOUNTS, The
Se ony Y wek no5 Se S .ses be
vention of bribery and undue influence by
outsiders, but inasmuch as few persons
would interest themselves in the success OF
q candidate to an extent criminal, unless
they had been promised patronage or spoils,
the law is effective. The penalties are y
has broken the law, or hisvagent has, he d
unseated and his opponent gets the place.
If culpable bribery be proved, he is of course
imprisoned, and in addition Is disqualifiedt to
sit for that place any more and for any other
for seven years. This law attains its end by
L. ~ A. Al~ . ky&nv
out for infringements, for they are the gain
ers by such infnngements. In 1880 there were
100000 voters; the total spent by candidates
to Parliament was S16, 100000. In 1885 (the
increase is due to the franchise bill of 1881
there were $3.50, 900 voters and only %, 900, i.
900 spent by candidates. In 1880, ninety-five
petitions alleging corruption were sent in /;
In 1885, but two, and in 1883 only one.
B. F. w. TusKA.
JoAas Hepkins Untssrstty.